Self-adjusting bearing



Dec. 20,1927. 1,653,407

' w. H. OGDEN SELF ADJUSTING BEARING Filed Nov. 23, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l y y 7 654g. 2.

gwoentoz Dec. 20, 1927; 1,653,407

W. H. OGDEN SELF ADJUSTING BEARING Filed Nov. 25, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 20, 1927.

H. OGDEN; OF KEYSTONE HEIGHTS,

FLORIDA.

- sn r-Amus'rme BEARING.

Application med November 23.1926.

This invention relates to bearings sp :c-ially adapted .for .use in internal combustaken on bearing. 7

tion engines, although not in any sense re- ;stricted to such use. v

An important aim is to provide a sectional bearinghaving means by which wear is automatically compensated for 'to avoid the necessity of detaching the oil pan of ,the'engine and separately adjusting -each'bear1 ng to the required degree of tightness at intervals. V y

A further objectis to provide a sectional bearing in which simple means are'provide to support a transversely movable wedge and to urge the same into pressure engagement with one of the sections of the bear ng.

A further and equally important ob1ect of the invention is to provide a bearing of the *character specified which is of highly simplified construction, durable in .use and cheap to manufacture and which maybe incorporated in an internal combustion or other engine without a substantial departure from established practice.

Other objects and advantages will 'be'ap; parent during the course of the following description. p 7

In the accompanying drawing forming a. partof this application and in which like numerals'are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

. Figure 1 is a vertical transverse sectional View through a bearing constructed in accordance with the invention, the view being line 11 of Figure 2.

Figure :2 .is a horizontal sectional v-iew taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a group perspective illustrating a wedge and the means to urge thesame into pressure contact with one of the beariu-g. blocks.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section taken at right angles to Figure 1 Figure 5 is a group perspective of the In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention the numeral 5 might be said to be applied to a portion of the crank case of an internal combustion engine. However, as previously suggested the invention is not in any sense restricted to such use, although its greatest utility may be found in such engines.

The numeral 6 designates a main bearing encircled by the fixed and detachable secsli ding contact with a main bearing cap of U-shaped formation. The U-shaped formation of the main bear- Serial 110. 150,318.

tions and 8 respectively of the main bearmg. Of course a babbitt or other lining is located between the shaft and the bearing for the obvious purpose of reducing friction to a minimum.- Figure 1 clearly illustrates thatthe sections of the bearing are non fmally spaced from each other to permit the section to be drawntogether as a result of wear. No shimsare placed between the [sections of the bearing as customary as the section 8 is urged into pressure contact withv the crank shaft at all times by means to be described and the employment of such shims would limit the extent to which the sections may be drawn together.

' In carrying out the invention the section or block 8 is positioned between and has the parallel sides 9 of ing cap is an important feature of the invention as the bight portion of the 'U-shaped cap serves as a rest or support for a transversely movable wedge 10, the upper side of which is tilted or inclined in a direction opposite the inclination of the underside of the block 8 sothat transverse movement of the wedge 10 will result in the movement of the block 8 in the direction of the shaft 6 to compensate for wear. 1

' The sliding contact of the opposed surfaces of the section 8 and the sides 9 holds the section 8 in proper position at all times and avoids canting and possible binding of the same. Also the line of thrust on the section 8 rfrom the wedge 10 is at right-angles to the vertical plane of vthecrank shaft and this fact, coupledwith the generous area of contact between the wedge and the section 8 assures uniform pressure contact of the block 8 with the crank shaft so that uneven wear is avoided.

The under side of the transversely movable wedge 10 is provided with a depending substantially semi-circular lug 12 engaged by one end of an expansion spring 14:. The other end of the spring is engaged by a disk 15 forced inwardly by a set screw 16. The lug 12, the spring 1 1, the disk 15 and the shankcof the set or cap screw 16 are positioned in a channel 18 formed in the bight portion of the bearing cap. The channel 18 may be substantially semi-circular in cross section and is of a width to snugly receive the spring 14., the lug 12 and the disk 15 so that lateral movement of these parts and especially buckling of the spring is inhiblted. In other words,'the positioning of the lug 12, the spring 14:, the disk 15 and the shank of the cap .or set screw 16 in. the chan-. nel holds these parts accurately in line so that the spring will urge the wedge 10 transversely and thereby compensate for wear. Figures 1 and 4 illustratettha-t the channel 18 is formed within a strengthening and reinforcing rib extending across the bottom of the U-shaped cap.

Particular attention is'directed to the fact that the. wedge 10 is ofa length less than the distance between the sides 8 and that the wedge is movable on the bight portion of the cap so that the same is firmly braced for pressure contact with the block. Figure 3 illustrates in an admirable manner the fact that one end of the wedge 10 is reduced so that the same may be extended into a socket 20 in one of thesides 9 when the wedge approaches or reaches its most advanced position.

In assembling the'bearing the section 8 is first extended over the crank shaft in the customary manner and the cap of U-shaped formation is applied and secured in place by cap screws 22, of which there may be four or any desired number. Subsequent 'to the securing of the cap in place the set screw 16 is advanced, preferably to the vposition illustrated to force the wedge transversely into pressure contact with the section 8. The advancement of the set screw 16 will result in the compression of the spring ltso that as wear takes place the spring will expand and advance the wedge and thereby move the section 8 upwardly.

The improved bearing provides a simple means by, which the necessity of'occasionally dropping the oil pan of the engine and adjusting themain bearings is avoided. Furthermore there is no reason wh the invention may not be carried out equa ly as well in connection with the bearings of pitman rods of steamengines or the connecting rods of internal combustion engines. It is therefore to be understood that the form of invention herein shown and described is to be taken merely as a preferred example of the same and that such minor changes in arrangem'ent and construction of parts may be made'as will remain within the spirit of the invention and the sco e of what is claimed.

Having thus descri ed the invention, what is claimed is: i

1. The combination of a bearing block, a wedge movable transversely thereof and having a lug, a cap slidably supporting said wedge and having a channel receiving said lug, and a spring in said channel and having pressure contact with said In 2. The combination of a bearing block, a

wedge movable transversely thereof and pressure contact with said lug; and a'set screw for compressmg said spring, thes'lde receiving said lug, a spring in said channel'and having walls of said'channel being adapted to hold said lug and said spring in line with'said 7 set screw. v I 4 r 4. The combination of-a bearing block, a wedge'fiatly engaging the major portion of one surface of the block, said wedge being provided with a depending lug, a'U-shaped cap having a bight portion movably supporting said wedge and being provided between the sides thereof with a hollow rib defining a channel for the reception of said lug, an expansion spring in said channel and engaged with said lug, and a'set screw'for tensioning'said spring.

5. The'combination of a bearing block, a wedge engaging one surface of the block, said wedge being provided with a lug, a U- shaped cap having a bight portion movably supporting said wedge and being provided with a hollow strengthening'rib defining a channel for the reception of said lug, a spring in said channel and engaged with said lug, and a set screw'tensioning said spring.

said U-shaped cap being providedwith parallel sides with whichthe sides of said'block have sliding contact. p

6. The combination of a bearingblock, a wedge for the block and having a lug, a'cap slidably supporting said wedge and having a channel receiving said lug, said cap also being provided with substantiallyparallel walls with which thewedge is engaged and guided by, a spring in said channel and having pressure engagement with 'said' lug, tightening means for said spring, and acontact member between said spring and said tightening means, said channel constituting a means to hold said spring approximately in line between said lug andsaid tightening means.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WARD H. OGDEN. 

